[Thermalseeker]

...that it's going to survive as a top nation for the foreseeable future.

I wish I shared his optimism.

[ScottinVA]

We`re going to know whetther America is going to survive the next decade on Election Night next year. I wish = shared that optimism too.

[Starboard]

“But in a sense I don’t worry about America because I think America has such huge strengths—particularly its freedom of thought and expression.”

Agree with you, I’m not very optimistic. The problem is that thought and expression have been dumbed down as recent generations have been indoctrinated with liberal group think by our so-called educational system and the popular media. Critial thinking is in critically short supply.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

...that it's going to survive as a top nation for the foreseeable future.

I wish I shared his optimism.

I do. Not because the US doesn't have monumental problems, but because other nations are far behind and have even bigger problems. It's amazing how willing we are to overlook and ignore the ramshackle poverty most Chinese and Indians live in - it's an undoubted good that millions of those people are moving out of that poverty, but it will take many decades of uninterrupted economic growth and social stability (which aren't going to happen) before China and India can bring most of their people the same standard of living and military power we enjoy right now.

And the US will not be standing still. Too many Americans and especially our political class are ignorant of basic economics and view taxes as both an inexhaustible source of funds for social welfare and a means to punish those who earn more. But we still have the most powerful economy in the world and hopefully the tide has turned against Obama-style welfare idealism.

[bert]

-——The theft being perpetrated by Congress and the Fed makes Bernie Maddoff look like a pickpocket.-———

Alternatively..... “The corruption of the Obama regime makes Harmid Karzi look like a piker”